Janssen and Bechly Brewery

Janssen and Bechly Brewery was a historic German beer producer based in Neubrandenburg, in what is now the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its roots reached back to a brewery founded in Neubrandenburg by Franz Moncke in 1847. That business, located on Treptower Strasse and known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer, was acquired by Friedrich Bechly around 1900. Friedrich and Hans Janssen, who were associated with another brewery in Rostock, later combined their interests with Bechly's Neubrandenburg operation. The resulting Janssen & Bechly Brewery was founded in 1911, and a new plant opened in 1912 at 49 Demminer Street. The enterprise became an Aktiengesellschaft, or joint-stock company, on January 25, 1922. Its initial capitalization consisted of 1,100 bearer shares with a nominal value of 1,000 marks each. The share capital was increased in 1923, the shares were split on a five-for-one basis in January 1925, and the capital was increased again in 1941. World War II disrupted normal corporate governance, and the company's last recorded annual meeting before the end of the war took place on August 12, 1943. After the establishment of the German Democratic Republic, the brewery was nationalized in 1949 and converted into a Volkseigener Betrieb, or state-owned enterprise. It was renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg and continued brewing under the Neubrandenburg name. It was subsequently reorganized as VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg, with Nordbräu becoming the principal brand identity. The brewery's historical range included Bockbier, Edelbräu, Kronenbräu, Malzbier, Pilsner, Tafelbier, and Weiberbock styles, indicating a portfolio spanning bottom-fermented lagers, specialty strong beers, malt beverages, and table beers. Following German reunification, the operation was sold to private investor Peter Roth in 1991. The privatized business was unsuccessful and ceased production in 1995. In 1996, the Nordbräu brand was sold to the Mecklenburg brewery Lübzer for 8 million marks. The transfer separated the surviving brand asset from the original Neubrandenburg production site. The former brewery building on Demminer Street, which had stood for almost a century, was demolished in 2009 to permit construction of a shopping center. A capstone bearing the brewery logo was preserved. Today, the brewery is a defunct historical beer producer, while its surviving significance lies in Neubrandenburg's industrial history, East German brewing history, and collectors' interest in bottles, caps, bar coasters, metal signs, and stock certificates.

The brewery's institutional history began with Franz Moncke's Neubrandenburg brewery, established in 1847 on Treptower Strasse. The brewery became known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer and was acquired by Friedrich Bechly around 1900. Friedrich and Hans Janssen were connected with a separate brewery on Badstuberstrasse in Rostock. Their collaboration with Bechly led to the establishment of Janssen & Bechly Brewery in 1911. A new production facility was completed at 49 Demminer Street in Neubrandenburg and opened in 1912. The business operated as a private brewery until it was converted into an Aktiengesellschaft on January 25, 1922. The company began with 1,100 bearer shares valued at 1,000 marks each. Further capital changes occurred in 1923, 1925, and 1941. The effects of World War II interrupted the company's regular corporate activity; its last annual meeting during the wartime period was held on August 12, 1943. In 1949, the East German state nationalized the enterprise and converted it into a Volkseigener Betrieb. It first operated as VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg and later as VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg. Beer was sold under the Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu names rather than the original private-company identity. The range included Bockbier, Edelbräu, Kronenbräu, Malzbier, Pilsner, Tafelbier, and Weiberbock. After reunification, the brewery entered the privatization process and was sold to Peter Roth in 1991. The private operation did not succeed and closed in 1995. Lübzer, a Mecklenburg brewery, acquired the Nordbräu brand in 1996 for 8 million marks. The original brewery site survived for several more years, but the Demminer Street building was demolished in 2009 for a shopping-center development. Its logo-bearing capstone was retained as a surviving physical reminder of the brewery. Historical memorabilia associated with the business includes bottles and caps, bar coasters, metal advertising signs, and stock certificates.

1. 2009Original brewery demolished

   The former Demminer Street brewery was demolished for a shopping center, although its logo capstone was preserved.

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2. 1996Nordbräu brand sold

   Lübzer acquired the Nordbräu brand from the defunct brewery.

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3. 1995Production ends

   The brewery closed after the privatized operation failed.

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4. 1991Post-reunification privatization

   The brewery was sold to private investor Peter Roth after German reunification.

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5. 1949Nationalization and state operation

   The brewery was nationalized and renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg.

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6. 1922Conversion to an Aktiengesellschaft

   The company became a joint-stock corporation with 1,100 bearer shares.

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7. 1912Demminer Street brewery opens

   The new brewery at 49 Demminer Street began operations.

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8. 1911Janssen & Bechly Brewery founded

   Friedrich Bechly joined with Friedrich and Hans Janssen to establish the brewery in Neubrandenburg.

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9. 1900Friedrich Bechly acquires the older brewery

   Friedrich Bechly purchased the older Neubrandenburg brewery, which was known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer.

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10. 1847Earlier Neubrandenburg brewery established

    Franz Moncke established the Neubrandenburg brewery that later formed part of the Janssen and Bechly Brewery's institutional origins.

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A regional German brewery with roots in Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer production. During the East German period, its identity shifted from the private Janssen & Bechly company to the state-operated Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu brewing brands.

• BockbierStrong lager

  A stronger, malt-forward lager style included among the brewery's historically documented products. The style formed part of the brewery's broader range of bottom-fermented beers.

• PilsnerPale lager

  A pale lager produced within the brewery's historical portfolio and associated with the mainstream German beer category.

• MalzbierMalt beverage

  A malt-based beer beverage documented among the brewery's product types, broadening its range beyond standard pale and strong lagers.

• TafelbierTable beer

  A lighter table-beer style included in the historical product range.

• EdelbräuBeer

  A historical beer designation associated with the Janssen and Bechly Brewery's product portfolio.

• KronenbräuBeer

  A historically documented beer name produced by the brewery.

• WeiberbockBock beer

  A bock-style beer listed among the brewery's historical products.

• NeubrandenburgBeer brand1949

  The principal beer brand used after nationalization, when the former private company operated as VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg.

• NordbräuBeer brand

  The brand associated with the later VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg operation. It survived the brewery's closure and was sold to Lübzer in 1996.

• 1996Sale of the Nordbräu brand to LübzerM&A

  After the Neubrandenburg brewery ceased production, its surviving Nordbräu brand remained a transferable commercial asset.

  What changed. Mecklenburg brewery Lübzer acquired Nordbräu for 8 million marks.

  Aftermath. The brand passed to another regional brewery, while the original production business remained closed.

  Brand sale price. 8 million marks (1996)

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• 1991Privatization after German reunificationM&A

  German reunification created the conditions for the sale of the former state-owned brewery.

  What changed. The brewery was sold to private investor Peter Roth.

  Aftermath. The private operation ultimately failed and production ended in 1995.

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• 1949Accept nationalization and transition to state ownershipStrategy

  The postwar East German economic system brought the privately operated brewery into state ownership.

  What changed. The business was converted into a Volkseigener Betrieb and renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg, later becoming VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg.

  Aftermath. Production continued under Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu branding, but the original private-company structure disappeared.

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• 2009Historic brewery building demolished

  The former brewery building on Demminer Street was demolished to make way for a shopping center; a capstone displaying the brewery logo was preserved.

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• 1996Nordbräu brand transferred to Lübzer

  The Nordbräu brand was sold to Mecklenburg brewery Lübzer for 8 million marks.

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• 1995Neubrandenburg brewery ceases production

  The privatized brewery failed and ended production, bringing the operating history of the Neubrandenburg site to a close.

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• 1991Nordbräu operation sold after reunification

  Following German reunification, the brewery was privatized and sold to investor Peter Roth.

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• 1949Brewery nationalized by East Germany

  The private brewery was taken into state ownership and renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg.

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• 1922Brewery reorganized as a joint-stock company

  The enterprise was incorporated as an Aktiengesellschaft with 1,100 bearer shares, formalizing its corporate structure and capital base.

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• 1912New brewery plant opens on Demminer Street

  A newly constructed Janssen & Bechly brewery opened at 49 Demminer Street in Neubrandenburg.

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• 1911Janssen & Bechly Brewery founded in Neubrandenburg

  The Janssen and Bechly partners established a new brewery enterprise in Neubrandenburg after combining interests connected with existing breweries in Neubrandenburg and Rostock.

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1. Janssen and Bechly Brewery